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Who we are

Who we are

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is the leading wildlife conservation charity working to protect and enhance the wildlife and habitats of Nottinghamshire.

What we do

We care for dozens of nature reserves across the county, including a mixture of valuable wildlife habitats ranging from beautiful wildflower meadows to splendid ancient woodlands. We engage the local community through events, education and volunteering opportunities and seek to ensure our county is a healthy and wildlife rich place to live.

We are a leading voice in standing up for wildlife and the environment. Particular attention is given to positively influencing the planning process at the district, county and regional levels. We also work nationally in partnership with sister Wildlife Trusts.

Not only do we manage our own land, we also advise other landowners how to manage their land to benefit wildlife. We are always looking for new ways to secure the future of the county’s natural world and we are currently developing a range of projects that link habitats and landowners over large areas of land and seek to influence the management of whole landscapes, placing wildlife conservation at the heart of decision making.

We aim to creating a 'Living Landscape' for Nottinghamshire, with a vision to recreate and reconnect our fragmented landscape. This involves restoring large areas of habitat, improving the connections between greenspaces and making the wider landscape more wildlife friendly. With your help we can shape a bright future for the wildlife and people of the county.

Governance

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust is run by a Council of Trustees according to its Memorandum and Articles of Association and Regulations. Decision making is undertaken by Trustees at Council meetings and at the Annual General Meeting for members.

We are also a partner in the largest voluntary organisation in the UK concerned with all aspects of wildlife conservation, The Wildlife Trusts. This partnership of 47 individual Trusts manages more than 2,300 nature reserves and has more than 800,000 members.

Vision & Strategy

The vision for 2040 is that Nottinghamshire has an urban and rural landscape rich in wildlife for everyone.

With that vision in mind the Trust aims to:

Deliver

Exemplary ownership and management of nature reserves, for the benefit of wildlife and people.

Important restoration and enhancement of habitats and wildlife across the county, working with partners where appropriate.

Engage

With Nottinghamshire's diverse population, enthusing them with an understanding of the value of wildlife and the natural world.

With our thriving member, volunteer and local community base, working together to manage a network of sites of importance to wildlife and local people.

Influence

The people, buisinesses and other organisations of Nottinghamshire to increase awareness of and support for, sustainable environmental objectives.

Key decision makers, as the leading and respected organisation for environmental advice in the county.

Local plans, and planning applications relating to impacts on biodiversity and NWT reserves, working with partners where appropriate.

Funding

Our Trustees

Ian Johnston

Ian Johnston Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Ian Johnston I am the Chair of Trustees for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
Committees: Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC), Conservation Committee, Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme (NUWS) People and Wildlife (PAW), Finance Sub-Committee and the Council.

My earliest working contact with the natural world was working for the Huddersfield Parks and Cemeteries Dept, where I learned planting out tagetes, and dry stone walling in the Pennines, amongst much else. My career took a different turn thereafter however, eventually becoming a medic. From 1985 I was a consultant in respiratory medicine at Nottingham’s QMC and more latterly at City Hospital also. In addition to the day job, I also spent many years managing health services in Nottingham and nationally, and in medical research projects.

My specific interest in wildlife was triggered 40 years ago when a colleague suggested a day’s bird watching on the South coast - we saw 71 species and I was hooked. I don’t consider myself an expert in any particular wildlife area – it’s much more a general interest across the board, both in this country and abroad. Overall, along with my wife Vanessa, our interests are probably focussed most on birds and botanics.

I have been a NWT member for 25 years or so, but like many members only paid my subs. To be fair my work commitments did not allow any volunteering. However seeing retirement coming up, I became a trustee in 2008 and took over as chair of trustees in late 2014. I never cease to be impressed with what fantastic staff we have at NWT, and will continue to work hard to help to ensure NWT’s success in restoring and enhancing Nottinghamshire’s wildlife.

When I am not on NWT business, it’s the garden, which is open on the National Garden Scheme, that occupies a lot of time. I am particularly keen on salvias, roses and magnolias. My two children are now of course long since established in their own careers and lives but together with them, it is mountains, music and tennis that complete the picture.

Colin Gibson

Colin Gibson Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Colin Gibson, I am a Hon Treasurer and Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC) Finance Sub-Committee (Chair) and the Council

I was bought up in the Home Counties and after taking a degree in geography and economics at London University (Bedford College, amongst the wildlife of Regents Park) I became a tax inspector, moved to rural North Yorkshire and married my wife Carol.

After running a Grimsby tax office in the 1970’s my work life led to specialisation in fraud investigation, we arrived in West Bridgford in 1983, now with boys aged 8 and 5, where we have remained. I was by then in charge of the Inland Revenue counter fraud office covering most of eastern England and later had national training and senior management roles in the same organisation. I moved into the Senior Civil Service in 2000 managing Valuation and by the time I retired in 2010 from what was then HMRC had overseen various esoteric aspects of personal taxation including Inheritance Tax as well as having management responsibility for compliance in what is now called specialist personal tax – which incidentally included responsibility for oversight of Charities.

Carol taught in several Nottingham schools, the family grew up and we travelled a lot, initially in Europe and then further afield enjoying in particular the Middle and Far East.

Though working across UK restricted my involvement in local activities I was at times a governor at several West Bridgford schools. After I retired became more involved in volunteering, including Friends of Bridgford Park and as a trustee of Nottingham Housing Advice. When cuts sadly led to NHAs demise I applied, having been an inactive member for many years, to become a trustee of NWT. Once accepted in late 2015 I was somewhat disconcerted by very quickly being invited to become Treasurer – but I am enjoying using my management experience to settle into that role as I learn more about the organisation.

Outside work we know from experience the need to value every day as it comes; we continue to travel and enjoy living close to our 3 grandchildren. As geographers we thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, in particular landscape and flora - though NWT has spurred us to acquiring better binoculars and starting to learn more about birdlife too! We have a personal target to visit every NWT site within the next 2 years. We belong to a local Amateur Dramatic Society (inevitably I am Treasurer), are involved in local politics and I’m very pleased indeed to have more time to work on our house and garden.

Robert Armitage

Robert Armitage Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Robert Armitage I am a Vice Chair of Trustees for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC), Conservation Committee (Chair), People and Wildlife (PAW), Health and Safety Working Group and the Council

I have lived in Beeston, Nottinghamshire since 1986 and am married with two grown up children. For the first twenty years I worked near the University of Nottingham, because the local office was created through a joint venture between the University and Scott Wilson (a firm of consulting engineers). I oversaw the growth of this office from 4 staff to over 250, moving to Chilwell in 2006, about one mile from Attenborough Nature Reserve.
My background in carrying out voluntary work dates back to the early 1980’s, when I was involved in a range of Young National Trust/National Trust Volunteer Groups (including the formation of West Yorkshire YNT and re-establishment of Nottinghamshire NTV). This was followed in the 1990’s by a period of nine years when I sat on the East Midlands Regional Committee for the National Trust.
I have been a member of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust for over 25 years, converting to life membership in 2014. In addition I am a member of the National Trust, English Heritage, Woodland Trust & the Royal Horticultural Society.
Professionally I have been the Chairman of the Nottingham & Derby Section of the Permanent Way Institution, and Chairman of the East Midlands Region of the Institution of Civil Engineers for two years from 2011-13. I do not see any conflict between civil engineering and the aims of a wildlife charity. It is a requirement of our institution to consider sustainability in our work; by using our skills and experience, engineers have much to offer in achieving a balance between the current and future needs of society and the conservation or creation of habitats for wildlife.
My business experience means that I have been directly responsible at various times for financial administration, human resources, and business development; as well as technical aspects. More recently I have sat on the Sustainability Committee for the UK, and have established the local “Green Team” with a remit to minimize our use of resources, engage in the local community (especially regarding diversity), and improve staff wellbeing.
I also have experience of establishing an ISO 9001 Quality Management System, and a BS11000 Collaborative Business Relationship system, as well as leading the local office through audits of these and other standards. Over the last few years I have also focused on Health, Safety & Welfare, providing guidance on company systems to over 1000 staff across the UK.

Simon Staples

Simon Staples Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Simon Staples I am a Vice Chair of Trustees for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: EMEC (East Midlands Environmental Consultancy Ltd) (Director) and the Council

I am a lawyer by trade, and was first introduced to the Trust by Tom Huggon when we were both at the same law firm. I have always held a deep interest in wildlife issues having grown up on the edge of Arnold, Nottingham when there were still fields and woods and the Day Brook to explore.
This interest was further stoked by Dr Jack Reilly who was the father of my best childhood friend. He would allow us to join him on field trips into the Peak District or across to North Wales.
I became a member of the Trent Valley Birdwatchers travelling all over the country with my trusty Carl Zeiss binoculars and Collins Book of British Birds.
Although my practical wildlife activity waned in my later teenage years, my interest remained. I became more involved with urban wildlife issues when creating my homes in Sawley and West Bridgford.
As soon as I realised Tom’s link to the Trust this re-sparked my enthusiasm to get involved and initially I served on the Membership and Management Committee.
I was then invited to be a Trustee in – um – not sure. Probably 2000 or so. The M&M Committee became the Resources & General Purposes Committee and I went on to Chair that for several years.
After a short stint as Chair of the Conservation Strategy Committee I became more closely involved with EMEC, and am currently the Non-Executive Chairman but spent 6 months (one day a week) working with the team and was lucky to be able to attend on several species surveys such as Great Crested Newts, Brown Long Eared Bats and Adders.
Although I now live in Derby I retain my passion for Nottinghamshire wildlife and urban conservation.

Bill Logan

Bill Logan Trustee Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Bill Logan I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC) (Chair), Finance Sub-Committee, Health and Safety Working Group, HR Working Group and the Council

• I am a recently retired civil servant with HR experience.
• I have been a Trustee since 2011.
• I am a founding member and Secretary of the Friends of Sharphill Wood in Rushcliffe
• My main interest is the protection and maintenance of woodland accessible to the public.

Cally Keetley

Cally Keetley Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Cally Keetley, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme (NUWS), People and Wildlife (PAW) (Chair) and the Council

I was born and raised in South Yorkshire. I have always had a love of the outdoors and the natural world. My first job was as a countryside ranger at one of Rotherham’s country parks.

I moved to Nottingham in 2009 to take a job as a community fundraiser at the local blind charity. I then spent four and a half years working at the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts in Newark in various roles: Managing projects for The Wildlife Trusts’ centenary including a book and film on the history of the movement and various celebratory events; Executive Assistant to the CEO; and as Development Officer working to generate funding for The Wildlife Trusts movement from trusts, foundations and other grant making bodies.

I currently work for The University of Nottingham in its Campaign and Alumni Relations Office, which is responsible for generating gifts of time and money to University projects through its Impact Campaign. I am a Project Manager and Personal Assistant to the Director of Operations and Director of Supporter Engagement.

I have been a committee member of the Trust’s South Notts Local Group since 2014.

My hobbies include walking, cycling, running and horse riding. I live practically next door to Attenborough Nature Reserve, which is great for an evening stroll! I also love to travel and have so far spent time in Central America and South Africa as well as spots in Europe.

David Schwarz

David Schwarz Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is David Schwarz, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committee: The Council

I am married to Ros and we have lived in Retford for over 25 years, after periods overseas and in other parts of the UK. We have three grown-up children, and an increasing number of grand-children. I have been a fairly dormant member of the Wildlife Trust for most of our time in the County, but have always loved being outdoors so am familiar with a number of the superb reserves; I consider myself to be an ignorant lover of wildlife and landscapes.

After studying Chemical Engineering, I pursued a career in Manufacturing and Supply Chain with Unilever until 2005, latterly being responsible for running the UK Foods Supply Chain. Since then I have “portfolioed”, running a Port Services and Logistics Business for a couple of years, setting up a small Consultancy, working part-time as an Industrial Tutor on a Masters Course in the Engineering Department of Cambridge University, studying for a History Degree, and undertaking voluntary work.

My voluntary roles have included acting as a Mentor with the Princes Trust, performing as a Games Maker with London 2012, being a Trustee of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Peak District and South Yorkshire branch and Chair of CPRE East Midlands. Co-opted onto the NWT Council at the beginning of 2016.

I enjoy sport, being a long-time supporter of Leicester Tigers and an occasional skier, jogger and golfer.

Gordon Dyne

Gordon Dyne Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Gordon Dyne, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Conservation Committee and the Council

I am married to Caroline with two daughters and four grandchildren.

I Worked 30 years for Severn Trent Water initially in finance and then Transport Services (management information or more accurately messing around with computer data). Retired or severed, depending on how you look at it, in 2001. Then worked part-time for the Arboretum Health Team a GP practice (management information again) for several years and then for Nottingham City Councils Human Resources Dept (working less hours for more money and doing guess what ?) and again taking severance/retirement yet again in 2010.

My involvement with NWT began in 1993 helping with the Wilwell Farm Cutting work party. In 1995 I took over as reserve warden (there was no one else) and have continued as warden to this day. I count this as a hobby, although Caroline refers to herself (inaccurately) as a reserve widow. I keep a regular eye on the site, lead volunteer work parties, record wildlife (particularly wildflowers which are my thing), lead guided walks and liaise with the central trust about the reserve - so where are those cattle Chris or why haven`t those cattle been removed yet. I believe that basic ongoing local nature conservation activity is the foundation of our work.

Around 1995 I also got involved in the South Notts Local Group, becoming Chair in 2000 and still am. Over the years SNG has expanded its activities from a basic walks and talks programme to encompass fund raising (currently Ruddington Spring Fair and a pub quiz), attending local summer fetes with our nature table and display, as well as promoting the work of the Trust locally via EMail, our website and press releases to local parish mags etc and maintaining contacts with local NWT reserves.

From about 1999 I was involved with Rushcliffe Agenda 21 looking to ensure that nature conservation formed part of the process. This led to the formation of Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group (RNCSIG) in 2003 with me as chair (there's a surprise) with the intention of promoting nature conservation in Rushcliffe and linking in NWT, Rushcliffe Borough Council, parish councils and local reserves and Friends Group - a role it continues to this day.

In 2007 I started going along to the NWT Sites committee on a regular basis and became a Trustee late 2011. Now that definitely is voluntary work!

Other interests include history, current affairs (news not Heat), various genres of fiction (adventure, science fiction, steampunk, Disc world, John Le Carre and Jane Austen - but definitely not Dickens and know a bit too much about Lord of the Rings for my own good, also love Radio 4 plays and documentaries - essentially if it has not been mentioned on Radio 4 it hasen`t happened. Not particularly a film fan, but love ripping yarns. For me the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (the radio programme) is the most important work of philosophy of the 20th Century - "life loathe it or ignore it you can`t love it" seems to cover so many situations!

In 2009 I received a First in Environmental Studies from Exeter University (actually went there a couple of times whilst studying!) - which was something I really enjoyed doing. In the past few years I have also done a number of Workers Education Courses and have become a MOOC junkie.

I Love walking and get severe withdrawal symptoms if I don`t get up to Derbyshire once a month. Every year I try to put together a walking holiday - one year’s expedition being Hadrian's Wall. Me and Caroline love pub lunches and are a bit addicted to quizzes at the moment - the tension if the Radio Times is late being delivered - never mind the programme list, the big question is can we do the Only Connect wall this week!

Katherine Wilson

Katherine Wilson Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Katherine Wilson, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committee: The Council.

I grew up on a small dairy farm in Northamptonshire and moved to Nottingham as an undergraduate.

I have had a 25-year career in marketing working in a diverse range of organisations including Anchor Trust, Capital Shopping Centres plc, British Waterways and the Museums Libraries and Archives Council. Since 2008 have provided marketing support and consultancy via my company number8marketing Ltd. Alongside this I am a designer working in traditional stained glass and contemporary fused glass, selling my work via my website, in galleries and at contemporary craft events.

For the past 6 years I have been a Waterway Partnership member (strategic volunteer) for The Canal and River Trust where I initiated projects including community attitudes benchmarking and increasing participation in running along waterway paths.

My hobbies include enjoying the arts, running and walking my two whippets. My usual outdoors haunts are the Grantham Canal towpath, Rushcliffe Country Park and the Clifton River Trent path.

I am married with an 11 year old daughter.

Martin Willis

Martin Willis Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Martin Willis, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC), Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme (NUWS) (Chair), HR Working group and the Council

First career – straight from school at 18 with paltry A-levels to be a book packer, over the following 12 years I eventually became a distribution manager for a wholesale bookseller covering half the country.

Uninteresting anecdote #1: Jeffrey Archer once shook my hand effusively, only because his publishers sales manager had just pointed out that I’d bought 50,000 copies of one of his books; even more depressingly we sold them all on.

First career terminated by redundancy after about 12 years, followed by 2 or 3 years of self-indulgent semi-retirement.

Second career – library assistant for a while then a library manager, then managing Nottingham’s Central Library for some time before becoming Senior Library Manager & overseeing half the City’s libraries.

Second career also terminated by redundancy, this time after 20 years.

Used to be wealthier & consequently well-travelled – uninteresting anecdote #2: once shared a flight, in club class (bounced up), with Mick Jaggers children; Mick Jagger and minders were in first class, go figure.

Currently part-time self-employed gardener, p/t Open University Student, Secretary of Allotment site and of course the Trust. General busybody (2nd stepdaughter’s words). Less wealth, more happiness.

Committees

Chair of Nottinghamshire Urban Wildlife Scheme

Mike Spencer

Mike Spencer Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Mike Spencer, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: NWTTL (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trading Ltd) (Director), Resources and General Purposes Committee (RGPC), People and Wildlife (PAW), Finance Sub-Committee, Supporter Journey Working Group (Chair) and the Council

I started work for the Courtaulds Group in 1967 as a very junior production assistant, after leaving the Army, eventually rising to the exulted heights of Divisional Chief Executive almost 20 years later. Probably the most fascinating period of my working life was the 10 years I spent as a management consult working in Eastern Europe on behalf of the European Bank of Reconstruction helping to prepare Polish and Romanian companies for their exposure to global trade. I finally gave up gainful employment when I ceased working as the Finance Director of a company I formed some 10 years ago. This follows a career in business management, consulting and new business start-ups mainly, though not exclusively, in the Textile and Clothing industry.

My wife Sue and I have always been “outdoor” people but only in the last 10 years or so, really since the opening of the Attenborough Nature Centre, have we become deeply absorbed in Wildlife and conservation. We now spend as much time as we possibly can, allowing for the demands of our allotment, enjoying the wildlife and environment that the UK has to offer. In the last few years we have become Scotland devotees having toured the Mainland and closer Islands on a number of occasions.

Tim Farr

Tim Farr Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Tim Farr I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committee: The Council

• I have lived in Nottinghamshire for most of my life, and graduated with a joint honours degree in history and law at Cambridge. I trained as a lawyer before working for four years as a marketing manager for a Nottingham Brewery.
• I moved into arable farming, aged 30, having just married Amanda and in order to help bring up a family. After fifteen years as a sole trader I formed a farming partnership with four other farmers in Nottinghamshire that was set up to progress innovative, environmentally sensitive and sustainable farming practices, and to develop local food marketing infrastructure.
• I currently farm 1,250 acres, mainly arable, but with about 100 acres of woodland (a third of it designated as ancient woodland) and another 100 acres of grassland supporting sheep and cattle. It is noted for the quality of the willows it produces, many of which end up as cricket bats made by the Nottingham firm, Gunn & Moore.
• In 2012 I was appointed as a member of the Nottinghamshire & Lowland Derbyshire Local Nature Partnership. I took the position of chair of LDNLNP in January, 2016 when the first incumbent retired.
• Since 2012 I has been a trustee of the Trent Rivers Trust, from which position I continue to promote the delivery of local environmentally beneficial projects and initiatives. Since 2013 I have been playing a leading local role in the Catchment Based Approach to water quality (“CaBA”), chairing the River Idle Management Partnership in North Nottinghamshire.
• I have undertaken a wide range of community involvement, ranging from parish councillor and school governor, to several charitable trusteeships and coaching a youth football team for many years. I spent 16 years as a non-executive director of Nottingham Forest Football Club, between 1997 and 2013, in which I took responsibility for liaison with the Supporters Clubs and the management of the expectations and aspirations of supporters (having been a supporter myself since being taken to see the team as a very young boy by my father).

Nick Parsons

Nick Parsons Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Nick Parsons, I am an Hon Secretary and Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme (NUWS) and the Council

I qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and spent my career at Browne Jacobson solicitors in Nottingham. A partner since 1994 I headed the Insurance and Public Risk Department which defends claims on behalf of insurers, indemnifiers and insureds. In that role I was responsible for a team of over 200 people.

I sit on the firm's Strategy Board, and I am client relationship partner for some of the firms key clients. I specialise in defending personal injury compensation claims against local authorities and I had a particular expertise in large scale group action child abuse claims. I was also an experienced clinical negligence litigator and I have also been instructed in respect of several public inquiries on behalf of local authority and NHS clients.

I have been on Council for over 15 years, with my main current role within NWT is to act as a trustee for the Sherwood Forest Trust. For many years prior to that I was heavily involved in the City Group and NUWS.

In addition to NWT and SFT, I am also a trustee of a small grant making Trust (The Stoneyholme Trust) and also Browne Jacobson’s own charitable grant making Trust.

Outside work my interests include cricket (Yorkshire and England), football (Liverpool), history, nature conservation and birdwatching. I live with my partner and young daughter in Nottingham. My ambition is to retire and become a full time birdwatcher!

Rod Jones

Rod Jones Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Trustee

Hello my name is Rod Jones, I am a Trustee for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Committees: The Council

Eighteen months after having supposedly retired from full-time local government employment in 1992 I found that my threshold of delight in matters DIY had been reached and I took up the opportunity to work as a consultant for another sixteen years until I reached another threshold, in that case the dubious pleasure of spending three or four nights a week in hotels, and real retirement beckoned. The first part of that journey had taken me from being a new graduate in urban and regional planning in Birmingham and then a not so new post-graduate in transportation planning in Liverpool via a variety of other city, county and regional authorities and two Parliamentary secondments to a six-year period as Director responsible for planning, transport and economic development in Sheffield.

Consultancy work again took me on a round tour of England dispensing advice on performance improvement and change management and providing an interim management service. During this time I had touched down in Nottingham for a few years where I met my wife Manjit. Fortunately, as the daughter of a diplomat she had also had to embrace a somewhat nomadic lifestyle. This has worked out well for us as our only daughter is also married to a diplomat and since grandchildren have arrived we have significantly increased, and spent, our haul of air miles helped by our shared desire to travel as much as possible in retirement. I am also an avid reader with a particular interest in politics, history and all things Indian.

Since we met in Nottingham, and had many friends here, when work no longer tied us to anywhere else we decide to return, which we did in 2001. As we both also enjoy walking and we live in Bramcote, Attenborough has become a regular location for us to enjoy and Manjit has also introduced its joys and benefits to the many elderly ladies who attended her healthy living group. My affinity for cycling takes me further afield, although not as far as it used to, but Attenborough also features on the quieter days.

So, after more than forty years working in public service, which I not only enjoyed immensely, but also regarded as a privilege, the opportunity to become involved again through the Wildlife Trust was something I am glad to do. It is also an opportunity to expand my understanding of something that I have only been peripherally involved in previously; which is another way of saying I bring a fair amount of specialist ignorance to the role, although I think I am a quick learner!

Paul Wilkinson - Chief Executive

Paul Wilkinson

“I developed my love of the natural world while growing up in, and exploring the narrow lanes and fields near, my family home in Mansfield, in West Nottinghamshire.

I have been lucky enough to spend my further education and career to date following this passion, whilst trying to make the world richer in wildlife and inspiring and supporting more people to discover and connect with the amazing wildlife we have here in the UK, right on our doorsteps.

Before joining the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust as CEO in January 2019, I worked in the UK Office of The Wildlife Trusts, where I led on national policy issues such as farming, planning and water, our landscape scale conservation vision of Living Landscapes, and most recently on national strategic relationships with businesses and key funders. I have also worked for the Wildlife Trusts in the East of England on regional policy issues, and with Norfolk County Council and a small environmental education charity.

I’m delighted to be back in Nottinghamshire and am looking forward to bringing my skills, knowledge and passion for the cause to my work with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.”